The only hitch that should be happening at a destination wedding is the one that involves the bride and groom.

To keep things running as smoothly as possible, the professionals are in agreement on one point: Plan, plan, plan -- as far in advance as you can.

Some ideas for making your dream nuptials a well-organized reality:

Save-the-date cards

One groom said his cards were mailed about nine months in advance, giving people plenty of time to decide, make arrangements and find air fare deals. "The earlier people know it's happening, the more able they are to find a way to attend," said travel agent Margi Arnold.

Get it in writing

Particularly when dealing with overseas wedding planners or out-of-town photographers and other vendors, put it in an e-mail. "I had one client who was told that she could have a reception space for free if she had more than 50 people, and then the place hired a new wedding planner, and this one said it had to be 70 people," Arnold said. "Luckily, she had saved the e-mail that said 50. You never know if personnel will change, or policies, and if you have it in writing, they will have a tough time arguing."

Be patient

Many countries, especially ones with beaches, are on a more relaxed schedule -- you've heard the expressions "Mexico time" and "island time." It's less stressful to accept that and go with it. "Other countries are sometimes less 'do it now' than we are," Arnold said. "Don't send an e-mail and expect one back in five minutes. It might take a week, so plan accordingly."

Be flexible

While it's good to have a clear idea of your wants and needs for the big day, it also helps to have some wiggle room.

Many locales have customs and rules that may not jibe with your vision of the perfect wedding, and even after the most careful planning things still may go wrong. "It's not just the weather that could cause problems," Arnold said.

Andy Schiff knows this all too well. He and wife Melanie Schiff chartered a boat for their reception, and several guests became seasick. As did the DJ. "We had to accept that there wasn't going to be quite as much music as we had hoped," he said.

Visit ahead if you can

Not only does it cut down on surprises -- the beach turns out to be much smaller than you pictured, there's a seedy neighborhood right next to your hotel -- but it allows you to better customize the experience. "If we hadn't been to Maui so recently, I don't think things would have gone so well," Schiff said. "We knew where we wanted to be, where to send people while they were there, how to get around. It made the whole thing go so much smoother."

Don't plan too much

Outside of wedding-related activities and maybe one other day of get-togethers, let your guests have their vacation.

"We left it up to other people as to when they wanted to get together," Sarah Pardikes said. "We had one day planned together plus the wedding, and then everything else was just informal."

Ask for the deals

Some resorts will offer a free wedding or throw in the reception room if you book a certain number of rooms, or the bride and groom get massages or free meals. Make sure you find out what's possible.

"Your planner or coordinator will know if those options are available," Arnold said. But if you're doing it on your own, you will need to be aggressive; find out who is in charge of making those decisions for the hotel or resort. Also be aware of the discounts for blocking out rooms and any time frames involved in snagging those deals.

Appropriate attire

Headed to a tropical isle for an outdoor affair? Then black tuxedos may not be the way to go. Know it's going to be windy? Long, filmy veils have a tendency to blow -- across your face, around your groom, onto the minister.

"If you're going nontraditional anyway, why not think that way with the attire, too?" Arnold said. "I watched at one wedding where the guys were just drenched in sweat, sitting there in the hot sun in full black formalwear trying not to drip as they waited for the ceremony to start in 98-degree weather."

Insure the trip

Particularly if you are going to Mexico during hurricane season. "You never know what could happen," Arnold said. "People get sick, something comes up. This is an expensive undertaking, and having insurance means it's taken care of and can be rebooked."

Know the rules

Pardikes says she was a little taken aback by the blood test -- to rule out HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases -- required to get a marriage license in Mexico. "It's not like I was worried that I had any of those things, but it's a little nerve-racking, you know?" she said. "For your peace of mind, you can have a test done here first, but you still have to do another one there."

Some islands require residency of 48 hours before you can be married, and some, such as Tahiti, require a month. It's usually easier to legally marry before you go, then have another ceremony there.

Ask about extra costs

If you are using an all-inclusive package, people attending the wedding but not staying at the resort usually must pay a daily fee to come to the wedding. There also may be added fees for vendors to come onto the property, plus resort fees and delivery fees.

Offer guests choices

The more, the merrier. The Schiffs sent out elaborate "travel packets" to their guests six months ahead, with three lodging options in a variety of price ranges and deadlines on booking, as well as travel agent contact and flight information, and other helpful hints about planning the trip.